Cooling system for internal-combustion engines



I. D. HOUSTON.

COOLING SYSTEM FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 13,1919- Patented Sept. 20, 1921.

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COOLING SYSTEM FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 13. 1919: 1,391,188.

I Patented Sept. 20,1921:

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- 51mm? J 01m [1.Huus1nn J. n. HOUSTON. COOLING SYSTEM FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 13, 1919.

91 1 I PatentedSept. 20,1921.

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, J 8mm Ju hn D.Hnus1un UNITED STATES J'OI-IN DEWEY HOUSTON, OF PRINEVILLE, OREGON.

COOLING SYSTEM FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 20, 1921.

Application filed May 13, 1919. Serial No. 296,856.

To a a.- 710m it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN DEWEY Hoosrox, a citizen of the United States, residing at Prineville, in the county of Crook and State of Oregon, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cooling Systems for Internal-Combustion Engines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a coolingsystem for internal combustion engines, and an object of the invention is to provide a system wherein the quantity of the cooling liquid may be varied as conditions warrant, and in which the scope of circulation of the cooling liquid may be varied as necessary.

A further object of the invention is to providea'cooling system for internal combustion engines-such as used in airplanes- Also an object of the invention is to eliminate the usual form of honeycomb radiatorswhich present considerable head-on resistance to the flight of the airplane, and which cooling system comprises a plurality of relativelythin compartments extended along the fuselage or body, having communication with each other and with the cooling chamber of the engine or motor of the airplane, and also to provide valves by means of which the compartments may be successively cut out, to limit the circulating scope of the cooling liquid, which valves are arranged to drain the compartments as they are cut out of the cooling system, to decrease the weight of the airplane, as a cooling liquid, is unnecessary, when the airplane reaches a high altitude where the air is invariably cold.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cooling system as specified, which might be applied to various types of motor vehicles, and by means of which the quantity of the cooling liquid, and its sco )e of movement might be varied, to suit-di erent climatic conditions.

Other objects of the invention will appear in the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a. part of this specification and in which drawing's:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through the forward end of an airplane showing the improved cooling system installed thereon.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section through the front or forward end of an airplane.

Fig. 3 is a cross-section through the airplane showing the improved cooling system applied.

.ings, wherein like characters indicate like and corresponding parts throughout the several views, 10 indicates the fuselage of an airplane, having the usual cock-pit in which the seats 11 and 12 are positioned.

The motor or internal combustion engine 13, of the airplane may be of any approved construction, of the water cooled type having the usual form of cooling chambers, into which the water or cooling fluid enters through the pipe 14 at the lower end of the engine and from which the water or cooling liquid-exits through the pipe or conduit 15 at the upper end of the engine.

The improved cooling system, includes a tank or radiator which is carried by the fuselage 10, rearwardly of the engine 13 and which is composed of a plurality of compartments 16, 17, 18 and 19. It is to be understood that any desired number of compartments may be provided, without departing from the spirit of this invention. The various compartments '16, 17 18 and 19 are relatively shallow, as clearly shown in Fig.

3 of the drawings, so as to cause the water to pass therethrough in substantially sheet formation to facilitate the cooling of the water prior to its return to the Water or cooling chamber of the engine 13. Wires or rods 20 extend partially through the compartment, in spaced relation, to divide the water passing downwardly through the compartment into relatively narrow streams of sheet-like formation thereby further facilitating the cooling of the water. The various compartments, gradually increase in size toward their upper end as shown at 21, and with these enlarged portions, the pipe 22' conimunicates. The branch pipe 22 has communication with the outlet pipe 15 of the cooling system of the engine 13, and they also have communication with an enlarged portion 21 of the forward compartment 16 of the radiator or coolin chamber as clearly shown in Fig. l of t e drawings. The

lowermost portion of the compartments are enlarged, to form substantially semi-cylindrical portions as shown at 23, and a pipe 24 communicates with the forward end of this enlarged portion of the foremost compartment 16,- the said pipe also having communication with the inlet pipe 14 of the cooling system of the engine 13.

The various compartments 16, 17, 18 and 19 are cut ofl from communication with each other, through valve structures 25, and 26. the former valves being positioned between the adjacent ends of theenlarged portion 21 oft-he compartments, while the lower valve 26 are placed between the basic ends of the enlargement 23 of the various compartments.

The valves 25, are three-way valves, and the stems 27 thereof have rocking arms 28 connected thereto, the free ends of which are forked, for receiving between the arms formed by the forking or bifurcating of the arms, an operating rod 29. The operatingrod 29 extends longitudinally of the radiator or various compartments, and has its forward end connected, by means of a slot and pin connection with a hand lever 30. This hand lever 30 may be pivotally mounted as shown at 31, in any desired position, convenient for operation by the pilot or passenger of the airplane, and a quadrant 32 is employed in connection with the lever for holding the same in various adjusted positions to permit regulation of the operation of the various valves of the respective compartments of the radiator structure. The rod 29 has depending nibs or lugs 33 formed thereon, which when the rod 29 is forced rearwardly engage the forked arms 28 and rock the valve stems 27, to operate the valve cones of the upper valves 25 toopen them to the atmosphere through openings 34 in the casing of the valve 25'and to cut off communication between'the adjacent compartments. The lugs 33 are spaced, along the rod 29, so that the initial movement of the rod will rock the rear-most valve stem 27, and then successively operate the valves 25, toward the forward end of the machine, thus cutting off first the rear-most compartment, next the compartment next to the rear-most, and the various compartments successively until the first and second compartments are cut off.

The valve stems 27 of the valve 25 also have rocking arms 35 connected thereto, which arms are connected by means of rods 36 to rocking shafts 37 positioned near the lower portion or bottom of the fuselage. These rods 37 have arms 38 thereon which are connected by means of rods 39, and links 40 to the valve stems of the cones of the lower valve 26, for operating the lower valves of each compartment synchronously with operation of the upper valve of the said compartment. The valve cones 41 of the lower valve 26 have transverse passageways, provided three-way valves, so as to permit the establishing of communication between the adjacent compartment when the said adjacent compartments are in communication with each other and the Water cooling chambers of the-engine 13. The casing 42 of the lower valve 26hascommunication, through ways 43 with the atmosphere, between the bottom of the fuselage 10, so that when the valves 41 are rocked to cut off communication between adjacent compartments in the system, the rear-most compartment which is cut out, or in other words the compartment directly in the rear of the valve operated will be drained through the port of the valve cone 41 and the port 43, thereby permitting the decrease of the weight of the airplane, by the draining of the cooling fluid which is not in use, therefrom.

The various compartments, have communication, at their upper enlarged portions 21, through branch pipes 44 one at each side of the airplane, in which branch pipes the valves 25 are positioned.

In mounting or climbing, as the temperature ofthe air decreases, the need of the cooling fluid decreases for properly cooling the engine 13, and consequently by operation of the lever 30, the pilot of the airplane may successively cut out the compartment of the radiator, decreasing the quantity of the cooling fluid circulating through the engine water chamber, and also cutting down the scope of circulation of the cooling fluid, the fluid which is cut outof the engine being drained from the compartment through the drain ways 43, thereby eliminating the necessity of the carrying of unnccessary load by the airplane which would be in the form of the inactive cooling fluid, and when returning to earth, after a flight, as the. airplane approaches 'the earth and the temperature of the air thereabout increases, the engine may be cut off, allowing the airplane to glide to the earth for landing, and as such procedure is the usual thing, the drain ing of the various compartments in the airplane at a high altitude will in no way interfere with the' eflicient operation of the air-v plane. I

The cooling system tank or radiator may be filled or recharged in an desired manner, through the filler lug in icated at 45, and if it is so desired, t e foremost compartment of the radiator may be drained, by means of a set cook or any other approved desired manner.

While in the foregoig description, and

drawings, the cooling system has been de scribed and illustrated as applied to an air-.

ing the quantity and scope of circulating,

movement, of the cooling fluid used with the engine, in accordance with climatic conditions. 7

Changes in details may be made without departing from the spirit of this invention, but: a

I claim:

1. The combination with an internal combustion engine having a cooling chamber, of a radiator comprising aplurality of compartments, means establishing successive communication between said compartments, conduits establishing communication between said radiator and the cooling chamber of said engine, and means whereby certain of said compartments may be cut out of operative communication with said cooling chamber. 1

. 2. The combination with an internal combustion engine having a cooling chamber, of

a radiator comprising a plurality of compartments, means establishing-communication between said compartments, conduits establishing communication between said radiator and the cooling chamber of said engine, means whereby certain of said compartments may be cut out of operative communication with said cooling chamber, and means connected to said last named means for automatically draining the compartments as they are cut out of operative communication with the cooling chamber.

3. In a cooling system for internal combustion engines, a radiator comprising a plurality of compartments, and valves establishing communication between said compartmen'ts at the upper and lower ends thereof, the valve casings of said valves also having communication with the atmosphere exteriorly of the radiator whereby when one compartment is cut off from circulating communication with a compartment of the radiator the fluid therein will be drained from the compartment.

4. In a coolingsystem for internal combustion engines, a radiator comprising a plurality of compartments arranged successively throughout the length of the radiator, valves establishing communication between the adjacent compartment, and means for successively operating said valves to successively cut out the various compartments of the radiator from circulating communication, said valve including casings having communication with the atmosphere exteriorly of the radiator whereby the compartment cut out of the circulating communicationwill be drained of cooling fluid.

5. In an airplane, the combination with an internal combustion engine having a cooling chamber, of a radiator, and means establishing circulating communication between said radiator and engine, said radiator being extended along the fuselage rearwardly of the engine and interiorly of the fuselage, to rovide a' relatively shallow compartment through which cooling fluid will circulate in sheet like form.

l 6. In an airplane, the combination with an internal combustion engine having a cooling chamber, .of a radiator, means establishing circulating communication between said radiator and engine, said radiator being extended along the fuselage rearwardly of the engine and interiorly of the fuselage,

to provide a relatively shallow'compartment through which cooling fluid will circulate in sheet like form, and a plurality of dividing rods in said radiator to divide the cooling fluid into streams of sheet-like forms.

7. In an airplane, the combination with an internal combustion engine having a cooling chamber, of a radiator, means establishing circulating communication between said radiator and engine, said radiator being extended along the fuselage rearwardly of the engine and interiorly of the fuselage, to provide a relatively shallow compartment through which cooling fluid will circulate in sheet like form, a plurality of dividing rods in said radiator to divide the cooling fluid into streams of sheet-like forms, said radiator comprising a plurality of compartments, and valves establishing circulating communication between said compartments.

8. In an airplane, the combination with an internal combustion engine having a cooling chamber, of a radiator, means establishing circulating communication between 1 said radiator and engine, said radiator being-extended along the fuselage to provide a relatively shallow compartment through which cooling fluid will circulate in sheet like form, said compartment enlarged at its upper edges, and conduits communicating with said enlarged portions, and with the" outlet of the cooling system of the engine. 9. In an airplane, the combination with an internal combustion engine having a cooling chamber, of a radiator, means establishing circulating communication between said radiator and engine, said radiator being extended along the fuselage to provide a relatively shallow compartment through which cooling fluid will circulate in sheet like form, said compartment enlarged at its upper edges, conduits communicating with said enlarged portions, and with the outlet of the cooling system of the engine, said compartment being enlarged at its lowermost portion, conduits communicating with said lowermost enlarged portions, and with the inlet of the cooling system of the engine, and means for varying the circulating scope of the cooling fluid through said radiator.

10. In an airplane, the combination with an internal combustion engine having a cooling chamber, of a radiator, means es-.

a relatively shallow compartment through which cooling fluid will circulate in sheetlike form, and means in said compartment to divide the'cooling fluid circulated therethrough in relatively narrow thin streams. 11. In an airplane, the combination with. an internal combustion engine having a cooling chamber, of a radiator, means establishing circulating communication between said radiator and engine, said radiator extending along the fuselage to provide a relatively shallow compartment through which cooling fluid will circulate in sheetlike form, means in said compartment to divide the cooling fluid circulated therethrough in relatively narrow thin streams, and means for varying the circulating scope of the cooling fluid through said radiator.

12. In a cooling system for internal combustion engines, aradiator comprising a plurality of compartments, valves establishing communication between said compartments at the upper and lower ends thereof, the valve casings of said valves having communication with the atmosphere exteriorly of the radiator whereby when one compartment thereof is cut off from circulating communication with an adjacent compartment ofthe radiator, the fluidtherein 'will be drained from the cut off compartment, said compartment being extended to provide relatively shallow compartments tltrough which the cooling fluid will circulate in sheet like form.

13. In a cooling system for internal combustion engines, a radiator comprising a plurality of compartments, valves establishmg communication between said, compartments at the upper and lower ends thereof, the valve casings of said valve'having communication with the atmosphere exteriorly of the radiator whereby when one compartment thereof is cut oil from circulating communication with an adjacent compartment of the radiator, the fluid therein will be drained from the cut off compartment, said compartment being extended to provide relatively shallow compartments through which the cooling fluid will circulate in. sheet like form, and means in said compartments to divide the cooling fluid circulating therethrough in relatively narrow thin streams.

14. In a cooling system for internal combustion engines, the combination with an internal combustion engine of the water cooled type, of a radiator therefor,'formed of a plurality of compartments, valves establishing communication between said compartments, an operating lever, and means connecting said operating lever and valves, whereb said lever may be operated for cutting 0 any number of the compartments from communication with said internal combustion engine.

15. In a cooling system for internal combustion engines, the combination with an internal combustion engine of the water cooled type, of a radiator therefor formed of a plurality of compartments, valves establishing communication between said compartments, an operating lever, and means connecting said operating lever and valves, whereby said lever may be operated for cutting off any number of the compartments from communication with said internal combustion engine, said means adapted to position certain of said valves for draining the contents of certain of said compartments.

JOHN DEWEY HOUSTON. 

